Process and apparatus for the manufacture of hollow building units



w. OWEN 2,254,086

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HOLLOW BUILDING UNITS Aug. 26, 1941.

Filed Nov. 15, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l SEQ IN VEN TOR. d/u. In Gals/v w-Bu.

A TTORNEYS.

W. OWEN Aug. 26;, 1941.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HOLLOW BUILDING UNITS 13, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov.

llllu I? y '9' ii) iii A TIER/V5315.

Aug. 26, 1941; w OWEN 2,254,086

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HOLLOW BUILDING UNI rs Filed Nov. 13, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 62 102 1% a 1&5

INVENTOR. 44/11.. 1.. mm 0 wE/V Y [51v '/3.u..

A TORNEYS.

w. OWEN 2,254,086

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HOLLOW BUILDING UNITS Aug. 26, 1-941.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 13, 1937 [[[FILFLEFLFLFLFLFIL \N NVQQNMN QN M w W\ Rfi 1 O9? 0 MN O O 0 M3 QMN $Q WNW 0 9% M W m\ Gm 11 L mun INVENTOR. (J/u.- L/IVM Owz/v BY v m 9 ATTORNEYS;

the course of ratu's'; Figure 2 is Patented Aug. 26, 1941 APPARATUS FOR THEMANU- FACTUBE F HOLLOW BUIL DING UNITS;

William Owen, Pittsburgh, 1a., burgh Plate Glass Company,

' rnoca ss AND assignor to l ittsl Allegheny County,

Ifa a corporation of Pennsylvania I Application November 6Claims.

The present invention'relates toholiow construction units and more particularly to a process of and apparatus for manufacturing transparent building units from glass and other vitreous ma- 'terials.

One object of this invention is the provision of an improved process of and apparatus for the fabrication 'of hollow building units by means of which a more perfect article is obtained at a reduced cost; 1-' v A second object of my process'of manufacturing composite building units in which curely welded together by positivepressure ex- 1 erted thereon and the pressed units are annealed for greater strength in a continuous operation.

.Other objects and advantages of my invention'will become -more readily apparent during the following. detailed description. Briefly stated, my invention comprises the as- I sembling of the component elements of atranswhich are then subjected par'ent building unit to a gradually increasing temperature by means I of which the unitsare brought to a condition at which the separate elements may be welded together under a positive pressure, pressing the units, and then subjecting the pressed units to a controlled cooling in order, thatthey may be properly annealed. a

With the advent of struction field, 'it'has become apparatus enabling a. more eflicient production or units of this-,,type. mThe many advantages of glass, brick into the conglass building blocks,qwhich are well known and eed-not be enumerated -here','have occasioned a widespread demand Pit 0,. encourage their .use the-cost of production .V-should; bereduced. Maniiestly, therefore, glass wbrickscanvno longerbe produced by a unit processandit :is .the:purpose of this invention to pro- -vide:-av,,process. and apparatus which will lend themselves to mass production; -My, invention contemplates the continuous process in which the assembled units 1 are heated, pressed and got laborand handling.

forsuch units, and in' order cooled with a minimum The finished product reinvention is to provid a desirable to perfect provision of a 13,1937, Serial No. 114,374

Figure 31s a partial sectional view taken substantially along the line III-III of Figure 1;

- Figure 4 is a side view, partially in elevation and partially in section,

of a modification of the apparatus; and Figure I of the pressing apparatus and controls therefor utilized in the modification oi! Figure '4.

theassembled elements are seof hollow supports ly with respect to the 24 which encloses quires no additional treatment and is readily aecepted by the industry as the equivalent of those blocks manufactured in other ways.

The preferred embodiments-of apparatus constructed in accordance withmy invention are illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a a side elevational view taken substantially along the line II--1I of Figure 1;

plan view of the entire appa- ,nonadhesive surface In the drawings, acircular preheating oven I, constructed of metal,"fire-brick, or other suitable materialand heated in any desired manner,

rests upon a'base 2 comprlsing'aninner set of hollow vertical members'3 arranged in spaced relation around a circle and from which project horizontal shafts 4" having thereupon. Wheels Gare carried upon vertical shafts I secured in offsets provided in the upper surface of thevertical members 3. A second set 8 are disposed concentricalflrst set of members 3 and likewise are provided with horizontal shafts 9 carrying wheels l0 identical to those already described. An annular rotary hearth I2 is provided with inner and outer trough-like, peripheral v flanges l3 which rest upon the wheels 5 and I0 and are confined-from'lateral displacement by the wheels 6. The spaces about the edges of'the hearth I2 are sealed by inner and outer annular plates l5 and I6 which of the vertical members flanges IT project downwardly into the peripheral'fianges 13. disposed in the flanges l3 constitute the sealhearth I2 is also provided with are secured to the tops land 8 and from. which Sand 18 or similar material ing medium. The upwardlyextending spaced flanges 20 which secure blocks-2| of refractory material. The top surface of these blocks 2| may be covered with a thin layer 22 of sand or othermaterial from a reservoir 23, mounted thereover, to provide, a

for the partially fabricated units carriedthereupon. An annular hood all except a small section of the hearth I2 is secured to the plates l5 and I6 and completes the oven assembly,

The hearth l2 oarries'a, circular rack 25 upon it'slow'er'face, which rack erigagesa pinion ear 26, secured to a shaft 21, mounted transversely of the base 2 in bearings 28., The shaft 21 carries at one/end thereof a gear 29 which engages a pinion 'gear 30, keyed to a shaft 3|, supported in bearings 32 and driven through a suitable reducing gear 33 by a; motor 34'. .In this manner,,avconstant rotation of'the hearth 12f through the oven I is efiected. l v v I The hollow building units 40 which are to be fabricated in this apparatus consist of three sep- 5 is an enlarged detail view wheels 5 journaled.

arate elements, a central core section 4I of tile or other vitreous material and two covering plates 42 of transparent or translucent glass. The central core sections M are covered with a low melting point glaze which serves as a cement to bond the separate elements together. The units 40 are assembled and placed upon the hearth l2 at the opening provided in the hood 24 and are carried through the preheating oven I, wherein the glaze coating of the core section softens. Upon emerging from the preheating oven I, the heated units 40 are removed from the hearth I2 by the inner of two feeder arms 50 attached in spaced relation to a piston rod 5I which projects from a cylinder 52 mounted horizontally upon the plate I5 between the extremities of the hood 24. Air under compression to actuate the piston 5| is admitted to the cylinder 52 through conduits 53. A bridge 60 secured to the annular plate I provides a support for the units 40 while they are being advanced by the feeder arm 50 and abuts a platen 62 upon which the units are pressed to secure adhesion of the plates 42 to the core section 4|.

The horizontal piston rod I may be rotated through an angle of 90 degrees in order that the feeder arm 50 may be moved into engagement with or disengagement from the hearth I2, the bridge 60 or the platen 32, by means of a crank 65 slidably keyed upon the shaft 5| to the rear of the cylinder 52. The crank 35 is connected by means of links 55 to a piston 31 that reciprocates in a vertical cylinder 53, mounted upon a beam 53 extending rearwardly from the adjacent support 3. Fluid under compression for actuating the piston 61 is admitted to the cylinder 03 through conduits -10.

The platen 62 is heated by means of a gas burner 15 positioned thereunder to which premixed gas and air is fed through a conduit 15. A plunger 18 coacting with the platen 02 is swivelly connected at 19 to a piston 30 reciprocating in a cylinder 3|, mounted vertically over the platen 62 upon an extension of the hood 24. Compressed air for actuating the piston 80 is admitted to the cylinder 8I through conduits 32.

A suitable guide member 33 to direct the plunger 13 is supported upon the cylinder 3I and projects toward the platen 32.

After the units 40 have been pressed to effect a seal, they are advanced by means of the outer feeder arm 50 to an endless conveyor 84 by means of which the pressed units 40 are carried through an annealing leer 35 of standard construction. The endless conveyor 34 passes over a roller 33 secured to a shaft 31, supported in bearings 38 and is driven by a roller (not shown) attached to a shaft 9|, which shaft is driven through a suitable speed reducing mechanism 92 "by a motor 33. I

The modification of the preferred embodiment of my invention as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 utilizes a pressure roller in place of the plunger 13 to effect a weld of the units 40. The apparatus comprises an endless conveyor I00 passing over rolls I 0|, keyed to shafts I02; mounted in bearings I03 and driven by any suitable means. The conveyor I00 is designed to carry the assembled building units 40 through a preheating oven I05, of refractory material or the like, in which are disposed heating elements I06, constituting gas flames or electrical resistance units. The conveyor I00 subsequently passes through an annealing leer I08, suitable supports therefor (not shown) being disposed throughout both the oven I05 and the leer I08 to prevent collapse of the conveyor belt.

Vertical members H0 at the sides of the annealing leer I08 and the oven I05 are interconnected by horizontal members III to form a substantial superstructure. A pressing roller I I 5, extending transversely of the conveyor I00 immediately above a platen II6 secured beneath the conveyor I00 adjacent the oven I05, is journaled in bearings H1 in the extremities of arms II8 which arms are keyed to a shaft II9 supported in bearing blocks'I20 attached to the central opposed pair of vertical members IIO. An arm I 2! is secured to the shaft H3, extending forwardly therefrom, and is connected by links I22 to a piston I23 reciprocating in a vertical cylinder I24 secured to the horizontal member III ofthe superstructure. Compressed air enters the cylinder I24 through a conduit I25 to actuate the piston I23, the flow of air being regulated by a valve I20, operated by a solenoid I21 controlled from the relay switch I23. An ordinary gate valve I23 is provided in the compressed air conduit l25 to control the air pressure should-the valve I23 fail to function.

An arm' I30 is also secured to the shaft H3, projecting rearwardly therefrom, and carries a spring contact I3I, connected by a cable I32 to a conductor I33 of electric current.

The upward movement of this arm I33 is limited by an adjustable stop I34 secured to the horizontal'membe'r III of the superstructure. A second contact I35 is adjustably secured in an arcuate slot I33, provided in the vertical member IIO supporting the back section of the horizontal member III, and is connected by a cable I31 to a solenoid I33 of the relay switch I23. The

switch I23 and the solenoid I33 are connected by a cable I40 to the conductor I of electric current. A cable I42 connects the switch I23 and the solenoid I21, while a cable I43 connects the solenoid I21 with the conductor I33 of electric current.

In the operation of the preferred embodiment of my invention as illustrated in Figures 1-3, the

motor 34 is started to drive the hearth I2 in the preheating furnace I and the reservoir 23 is opened to feed thelayer of sand 22 to the upper surface of the blocks 2| of the hearth. When the temperature of the preheating oven I reaches the desired point the assembled units 40 are placed upon the hearth at suitable intervals. The units 40 pass through'the preheating oven and the low melting point flux coating the core sections 4I thereof is softened and joins the covering glass plates 42 to the core sections 4I. As

the first unit '43 emerges from the preheating oven I, compressed air is passed into the cylinder 52 to advance the piston rod II and the feeder arm 50, thus moving the heated unit 40 from 'the hearth I2 over the bridge 50 to the platen 02. With the arm 5| in this advanced position, it is turned through an angle of degrees by the operation of thepiston 31 in the cylinder 33 actuating the crank 35. The flow of air into the cylinder 52 is reversed to retract the rod 5I from itsadvanced position to that point at which the feeder arm clears the Math. The piston is then advanced, lowering the feeder arm 50 to its horizontal position. Air is then passed into the cylinder 3| to force the piston 30 and the plunger 13 downwardly against the unit 40, contained on the platen 62, to weld the separate elements thereof together. After such pressing operation is completed, the piston together.

83 is again raised by reversing the flow of air into the cylinder SI. By this time, a second unit 40 has emerged from the preheating even I and air is again admitted inIo the cylinder 52 to drive the rod I forward. The inner arm 50 removes the second unit 30 from the hearth 2I and passes it over the bridge 50 to the platen 02 from which the first element 40, already pressed, has been removed by the outer feed arm 50, to the conveyor 84. The rod 5! is again rotated through 90 degrees in order that the outer arm 50 will clear the block 40 on the platen and the inner arm 50 will clear the succeeding block emerging from the preheating oven I as the rod 5| is drawn back to its original position. The pressed units 40 are passed continuously through the annealing leer 85 and after such treatment may be inspected and packed as they leave the leer 85.

r The fabrication of the building units 40 as contemplated with the apparatus illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 is more readily accomplished, due to the simplified apparatus employed. The preheating oven I85 is brought up to temperature and the conveyor I00 started. The assembled blocks 40 are placed upon the conveyor ID!) at the entrance to the preheating oven I05 and are carried therethrough while the separate elements of the blocks are softened and cemented 7 On leaving the preheating oven I05, the first brick 40 engages the pressing roller H5, causing it to be moved vertically. Such vertical movement causes the arm I30 to be lowered until the contact I3I engages the contact I35, closing the electrical circuit which operates the relay switch I38 to open theair valve 126. The entrance of air through the conduit I into the cylinder I24 moves the piston I23 downwardly and with this movement, arm I2I is forced down, thus rotating the shaft Ill! and exerting a. pressure through the arms H8 and the roller II5 upon the block 40 passing therebeneath. The platen IIG, lying direct-1y beneath the pressing roller H5. permits an equal distribution of the pressure between the upper and lower surfaces of the glass block. When the arm I2I is forced down by the piston I23, it causes the arm I to be raised sufficiently to break the electric circuit, operating the relay switch I38 and the valve I26. Pressure is, however, maintained in the cylinder I24 until the block 40 is completely pressed. The pressed units pass through the annealing leer I68 and as they emerge therefrom they are inspected and packed.

It will be seen therefore that from the time the assembled units are placed in the apparatus What I claim is:

1. The process of manufacturing hollow building units which comprises placing the component elements of the units in superposed relation, passing the assembled units through a preheating oven, applying a direct vertical pressureto the heated units as they are removed from the preheating oven to weld the separate elements of each unit together, and cooling the pressed units gradually to effect a proper annealing thereof.

2. The process of manufacturing hollow vitreous building units which comprises placing the component elements of the units in superposed relation, passing the assembled units through a preheating oven, applying a rolling pressure to the upper surface of the heated units as they pass from the preheating oven to weld the separate elements of each unit together, and cooling the pressed units gradually to effect a proper annealing thereof.

' and passing the pressed units through a. zone of until they are removed mechanically in a coniinuous process, the finished product will be entirely uniform throughout and there is little chance of breakage because each unitis subjected to equal treatment. While the apparatus has been described as operating solely upon a construction unit comprising three elements, that is the core section and covering glass plates, it may be used with splendid results to fabricate bricks composed of two rectangular cup sections formed entirely of glass. It will also be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the apparatus without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

decreasing temperatures to effect a proper annealing thereof.

4. The process of manufacturing hollow building units which comprises assembling hollow vitreous tiles coated with a low melting glaze and two'covering glass plates, passing the assembled units through a. preheating oven to soften the glaze, applying a direct vertical pressure to the heated units as they are removed from the preheating oven to weld the separate elements of each unit together, and cooling the pressed units gradually to effect a proper annealing thereof.

5. The process of manufacturing hollow building units which comprises assembling hollow clay tiles coated with a low melting glaze and two covering glass plates, passing the assembled units through a preheating oven to soften the glaze, applying a rolling pressure to the upper surface of the heated units as they leave the preheating oven to weld the separate elements of each unit together, and cooling the pressed units gradually to effect a proper annealing thereof.

6. Apparatus for the manufacture of hollow vitreous building blocks comprising a preheating kiln having an entrance end and an exit end, an 'endless conveyor passing through the kiln and projecting from opposite ends thereof, said conveyor being adapted to receive the component parts of the blocks in assembled relation, 8. press disposed adjacent to the'exit end of the kiln, means for advancing preheated blocks in assembled relation from the conveyor into the press and including means for moving blocks from the press after the pressing operation, a second conveyor disposed to receive the blocks-as they are moved from the press and an annealing leer enclosing at least a portion of the second conveyor.

WILLIAM OWEN. 

